Window screen latch



June 9, 1953 w. w. FLUGRATH 2,641,493

' WINDOW SCREEN LATCH Filed April 5. 1950 /4 15 1 s l0 r qll l I F/g. 2

Walter W. F/ugral/r mmvron.

Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED TATES PA EN ]oF'Fice 2,641,493 WINDOW :SCREEN LATCH Walter W. Flugrath, New Braunfels, Tex. Application April 3, 1950, Serial No. 153,669

My invention relates to improvementsinwim dow screen latches for holding closed the type of outside window screen hinged at the top to the window frame to open outwardly.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a latch for such screens to take the place of the conventional hook and eye and which cannot be picked through the screen from the outside the window to unlatch the screen.

Another object is to provide a latch for the purpose above set forth which is simple in construction, can be applied to conventional windows and window screens easily and quickly, and. which is foolproof, durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and subordinate objects, within the purview of my invention, together with the precise nature of my improvements will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claim are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification. 7

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of my improved window screen latch applied, in the preferred embodiment thereof, to the window sill and the window screen;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective, partly in section;

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the hasp.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, my improved window screen latch comprises a hasp I for attachment on top of the window sill 2,

1 Claim. (01. 292-19 q- '2 under'said keeper. A rearflange I3 of the keeper, relatively shorter than the front flange II, is

provided with a horizontal slot I4 and a vertical slot I5 in'its lower edge opening into the center of the horizontal slot I4. The slots I4 and I5 I form a composite T-slot with the vertical slot L the screws I'I', said bracket 3 is attached on the an attaching bracket 3 for the hasp I, and a keeper i for attachment to the bottom rail 5 of the window screen 6 and with which the hasp is adapted to interlock with a snap action, in. a manner presently clear.

The hasp I is U-shaped and formed of rodlike material with a straight closed, rear end I, and a pair of spaced apart resilient side members 8 terminating at the open end of the hasp in a pair of normally spaced apart hooks 9 forming in the plane of the hasp a pair of outturned straight, free ends I!) on said side members 8.

The keeper l is of channel bar form with a front attaching flange I I by means of which and screws I2 in the ends thereof, said keeper is attached on the inside of the bottom rail 5 in horizontal position with its channel side facing downwardly and spaced above the window sill 2 sufficiently for the hooks 9 to be positioned window sill 2 opposite the keeper 4 between said keeper and the lower sash II; of the window.

The bracket 3 is attached so that the hasp I is vertically swingable about a horizontal axis parallel with said keeper 4 to swing the free ends It of the side members 8 upwardly between the flanges II and I2 of said keeper to engage the inner face of the rear flange I3 when the window screen 6 is closed, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The vertical slot I5, or restricted end,

is of a width to pass the side members 8 at the hooks 9 through the same, with a'slight clearance, when said members 8 are flexed to engage said hooks 9 side by side, and the slot I4 above said vertical slot, or entrance I5, is shorter than the combined length of the free ends Ill, when said hooks are engaged, all for ently seen.

Referring now to the use and operation of the invention, when the window screen 6 is swung closed, the keeper 4 is in position to overlie the hooks In of the side members 8 with the hasp I inclined downwardly toward said screen 6 with said hooks 9 resting on the window sill 2. To latch the screen, the side members 8 are flexed, with the fingers, to engage the hooks. 9,

and the hasp I is then swung upwardly to pass. said side members at the hooks 9, upwardly through the vertical slot, or entrance I5, into the slot I4, at which point said side members 8 are released. When released, said side members 8 will spring apart to the ends of the horizontal slot I4 to position the free ends II) in front of the rear flange I3. of the keeper 4, whereby said hasp I and keeper 4 are interlocked to latch the screen 6 in closed position. The horizontal slot I4 being shorter than the overall length of the free ends I0, said ends cannot be withdrawn out of said slot l4 without flexing the side members 8 to bring the hooks 9 into the described engagement, and that is impossible to accomplish by fishing with a wire or the like through the window screen 6. However, by

a purpose pres flexing said side members 8 from the inside of the window screen 6, in the manner already described, the same may be readily swung downwardly through the vertical slot, or entrance, l5 to unlatch the window screen. in a manner which will now be clear.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufiice to impart a clear understanding of my invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification, without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claim. 7

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A latch for securing a window screen to a window sill comprising a channel member with a front flange having ends attachable to said screen and a relatively shorter rear depending flange having a downwardly opening T-shaped slot therein forming a restricted entranceto the wider portion of the slot, and a pivotal member attachable to said sill and including resilient.

sides flexible toward each other into engagement to enable the same to pass upwardly through said entrance into the wider portion of said" slot for reaction apart to engage opposite ends of the wider portion of the slot, said sides terminating in lateral end portions hooking behind said depending flange when said sides are engaged with the ends of the wider portion of the slot, said lateral end portions being of an overall length when said sides are engaged greater than the length of the wider portion of the slot to prevent said lateral end portions from pulling'out of said wider portion if said sides are engaged while in the wider portion of the slot.

WALTER. W. FLUGRATH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 342,332 Coulter May 1886 662,311 Ryan Nov. 20, 1900 942,336 Moellenbrock Dec. 7, 1909 2,296,537 Peake Sept. 22, 1942 

